Sawdust City "Uranus" beer

atomeyes · Post by **atomeyes** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 12:45 pm

I don't know the full name of it. i think its a pretty dumb name, but it didn't let it cloud my judgment. i ordered it at Volo last night (on cask).

i really want a toronto brewery to do well...i really do...

but yeah, it was disappointing. long, lingering bitter aftertaste. the initial hit on the tongue caught a LOT of alcohol with a spirit-like evapouration as i drank it.
bouquet was slightly mentholy.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:59 pm

'Careful pronunciation may be necessary to avoid embarrassment; say "YOOR a nus" , not "your anus" or "urine us".'

- neither which sound like great beers.

elproducto · Post by **elproducto** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:13 pm

What you are describing sounds like an Imperial Stout, which is what it is. I would expect some bitterness.

But I haven't had it, so I can't really comment. Perhaps Cask isn't the best delivery for it?

seemed to like it.

It's not a Toronto Brewery BTW.

Gravenhurst.

sprague11 · Post by **sprague11** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:32 pm

It was on tap at C'est What also - I passed in favour of the Great Lakes Cask.

andrewrg · Post by **andrewrg** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:53 pm

I had it on Wednesday. It's definitely a bit strange on cask--I don't think the thin mouthfeel of cask quite fits. That said, I enjoyed the beer. The bitterness didn't bother me because it meshed well with the other flavours which I felt were typical of a strong-tasting imperial stout.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:37 pm

Had some the other night at Volo and agree that it it is not well served by a cask presentation, at least for my own preferences. The anise/herbal character is quite strong and I'd prefer it to have a bigger, thicker base beer to support it.

atomeyes · Post by **atomeyes** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:31 am

JerCraigs wrote:Had some the other night at Volo and agree that it it is not well served by a cask presentation, at least for my own preferences. The anise/herbal character is quite strong and I'd prefer it to have a bigger, thicker base beer to support it.

see, you tasted anise/herb. that's what i sort of got, except that also brought forward the alcohol taste.

there's a big difference between herbal and medicinal and Uranus is almost medicinal.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:14 pm

elproducto wrote:It's not a Toronto Brewery BTW.

Gravenhurst.

Well... it WILL be a Gravenhurst brewery, once they actually get one built up there.

For now, they've been brewing at Niagara College, and I think they have a batch on the go at Black Oak as well.

But yeah, technically not a Toronto brewery.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:16 pm

Also - while I haven't tried this beer yet, I can dig what people are saying about cask not being the best serving method. I don't think I've ever had an imperial stout on cask that I really enjoyed - much prefer them in keg or bottle.

liamt07 · Post by **liamt07** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:30 pm

GregClow wrote:Also - while I haven't tried this beer yet, I can dig what people are saying about cask not being the best serving method. I don't think I've ever had an imperial stout on cask that I really enjoyed - much prefer them in keg or bottle.

Wholeheartedly agree. I'd extend this sentiment to really any stouts, porters, IPA/IIPA's etc etc being served on cask - I just don't understand why bars/breweries keep doing this in Ontario. I really don't think any of these styles are even remotely suited to cask, and I don't think I've ever had anything from these (and other similar) styles that I've enjoyed more on cask than draught/bottled.

Unless this beer shows up on tap or I'm able to get my hands on a bottle, I don't think I'll be rushing out to try this one.

andrewrg · Post by **andrewrg** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:21 pm

I had a couple of good stouts on cask at Cask Days. The one I remember was the Charlevoix Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. It was really good. Rivaled the BBA Tempest at Volo. So not all stouts are awful on cask, but I agree, in general they are better suited to kegs and bottles.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:08 pm

GregClow wrote:Also - while I haven't tried this beer yet, I can dig what people are saying about cask not being the best serving method. I don't think I've ever had an imperial stout on cask that I really enjoyed - much prefer them in keg or bottle.

I'm kinda with you there - Péché Mortel was no big deal (watery cold black coffee) Wellington RIS was unusually cloying (yet still good).

So the Age of Carbonation is a good thing for Imperial Stouts.

(Wellington Iron Duke Strong Ale is great on cask though, Grag if you've not ventured.)

jrenihan · Post by **jrenihan** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 2:44 pm

Interesting to see the different takes on this beer. I had it at C'est What on Friday and thought it was quite good. Remarkably bitter for a stout, but I thought it worked. Funnily enough, the best part for me was probably the cask treatment. I tend to like a very low carbonation level in my beers and thought that this one felt quite lovely. It is no Tempest, but I would say I probably enjoyed it more than the Wellington, for example. Certainly liked it more than the Beach Wheat, which I wasn't terribly excited by.

Ren

phat matt · Post by **phat matt** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:22 pm

I had a little from a bottle today. It was fantastic. I agree on the agressive bitterness, but I though it was close to very dark chocolate and coffee rinds. the flavour was not overly bitter at all. this was also at 10am on no food or coffee. I think the caks didnt due this great brew justice. Awesome beer, and I really hope they bottle their offerings. This would be an injustice to the ontario market if they turn into just a brew pub.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:15 pm

An Imperial on cask doesn't have to taste like ass...

I thought Péché Mortel was phenomenal (better than the few bottles I've had):
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11 ... /?ba=Derek

But that's the nature of the living cask... it can certainly be hit or miss (and sometimes it's a really big miss).